Railway-crossing.



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No. 895,000. PATBNTBD AUG. 11, 1908. A. TIBBS. RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8 1908 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIOE.

ANGUS T-IBBS, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO .l AMES R. SMITH, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-CROSSING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGUs TIBBs, citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossings, rof .which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in railway crossings and has for its object the provision of a device of this character embodying novel means for bridging over the .flange receiving spaces of the intersecting rails so as to provide a continuous `tread for either of the tracks and thereby eliminate that jolting and pounding of the rolling stock which is usually incident to its passage over acrossing.

The invention further contemplates a crossing embodying a switch point and novel meansfor automatically actuating the switch point whereby the same is thrown into proper position :by the approaching train.

For a full understanding of the invention zand the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of thedetails of construction and ythe means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway crossingl embodying the invention, portions being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of one of the frogs which is located at each corner of the crossing. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 2.

VAFig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the switch point.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following `description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Broadly speaking the invention consists of the provision of a frog at each corner of the crossing, the said frogs .being provided with switchl oints and also with means for auto- .matical y actuating the switch points whereby they maybe swung intosuch a position as .to provide a continuous tread for either of the tracks. .Specifically describing the construction of these frogs it will be observed that they each comprise ya base 1 having the blocks 2, ,3, 4 and 5 mounted thereon, the flange receiving spaces 6 and 7 of the two ,tracks .being provided at the meeting edges of these blocks.' The rail members 8 of one of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1908.

Patented Aug. 1 1, 190s.

serai No. 431,639.

the tracks are detachably secured to the blocks 2 and 3 adjacent the flange receiving space 6 and the rail members 9 are secured to the blocks 2 and 5 upon one sideof the flange receiving space 7, the said rail sections engaging the tread portions of the wheelsupon the rolling stock and being removable so that they can be readily replaced should they become worn or be in any manner injured. The four blocks are provided at the lower portion of their inner corners with recesses to receive a circular disk 10 which rests upon the base 1 and is designed to rotate freely thereon. In the present instance this disk 10 is provided with an opening 11 designed to receive grease or lubricant which will be fed to the base as required and will cause the disk to always work smoothly. Rigid with this disk 10 and preferably integral therewith lis a switch point 12 which has a triangular or segmental formation, the upper face of the switch point being flush with the upper surface of the crossing and the base or 'flared end of the point operating in a segmental recess 13 formed in the block 2. It will be observed however that the inner corner of this block 2 is formed with a tongue 14 which is received loosely within ahorizontal slot in the base or flared end of the switch point. This switch point is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point in its length upon a pin 16 which passes through the tongue 14 and also extends centrally through the disk 10 and engages the base 1. The contracted or reduced end of the switch point 12 projects into the intersecting portion of the flange receiving spaces 6 and 7 and is designed to be swung about the pin 16 so as to bridge over the space between the two rail members S of one track or the rail members 9 of the opposite track. The inner end of one of the rail members 8 is beveled at 8a and the switch point abuts against and engages this beveled end 8Ll when it is moved so as to extend across the flange receiving space 7. In a similar manner the inner end of one ofthe rail members 9 is beveled at 9u for engagement with the switch point when the latter is swung in the opposite direction so as to extend across the flange receiving space 6.

Switch operating levers 17 and 18 are mounted upon the blocks 3 and 4 upon each side of the switch point and have an operative connection with the latter. The lever 17 is disposed directly opposite to the rail member 9 and has the outer end thereof pivoted to the block 3 at 19. The inner or swinging end of the lever 17 is connected to the base of the switch point 12 by means of a link 20, one end of the link being pivoted to the switch point while the opposite end passes loosely through the lever 17 and is slotted at 21 to receive a pin upon the lever. This link 20 after passing through the lever terminates in an enlarged head 2Oa and inter-` posed between this head and the lever is a spring 22. A spring 23 normally operates to move the lever 17 so that the swinging end thereof is projected across the flange receiv ing sp ace 7 and when the lever is in this position the switch point is revolved about its pivot so that the contracted end thereof abuts against the beveled end 8a of one of the rail members 8 and bridges the space between the two rail members 8. In the resent instance the lever 17 is formed with a laterally projecting flange 17a which projects over the upper surface of the block 3 and serves to protect the springs 22 and 23 from injury.

The o posite lever 18 is mounted in a manner simi ar to the lever 17, the outer end of the lever being pivoted to the block 4 while the inner end is adapted to swing across the flange receiving space 7 and is normally held in such a position by means of a spring 25. A link 26 connects the swinging end of the lever 18 with one end of an intermediate lever 27 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point 28 upon the block 5. The opposite end of this intermediate lever 27 is connected by a rod 29 to the contracted end of the switch point 12. It will be observed that the link 26 between the lever 18 and the intermediate lever 27 passes loosely through the lever 18 and is formed with a slot 30 receiving a pin upon the lever. An enlargement 26a is disposed at the extremity of the i j link 26 and interposed between this enlargement and the lever is a s ring 31. Attention may also be directed to tllle fact that the lever 18 similar to the lever 17 is formed at its upper portion with a lateralflange 18a which extends over the block 4 and shields the springs 31 and 25 from injury. A plate 32 is disposed at the base of the flange receiving space 6 at one end thereof and extends over vthe intermediate lever 7 so as to prevent dirt or other foreign matter accumulating in the flange receiving space from interfering with the free movements of the said intermediate lever. The inner end of this plate 32 terminates in a curved extension 32a which-extends across the intersection of the two flange receiving spaces 6 and 7 and passes loosely through an opening 33 in the contracted end of the switch point.

In the normal position of the parts the inner ends of the two switch actuating levers 17 and 18 are swung across the flange receiving space 7 and the switch point 12 is turned upon its pivot so that the contracted end thereof abuts against the beveled end 8a of one of the rail members 8 and bridges the space between the two rail members 8. A continuous tread is thereby provided which would enable any rolling stock traveling upon the rails 8 to ass over the crossing without the usual olting. However, should the rolling stock be traveling upon the opposite track the anges of the wheels will engage one of the levers 17 or 18 according to the direction in which the rolling stock is moving and will swing the said lever outwardly and away from the flange receiving s ace. Should the lever 17 be thus moved t e link 20 will draw upon the base of the switch point so as to revolve the latter member about its pivot 16 until the contracted end thereof abuts against the beveled end 9a of one of the rail sections 9. A continued movement of the lever would then merely serve to compress the spring 22 so as to hold the switch point yieldingly in position and would not'produce any breakage such as would occur were the parts rigidly connected. This movement of the switch point will operate through the rod 29, intermediate lever 27, and link 26 to swing the opposite lever 18 outwardly and away from the flange receiving space so that the wheels of the rolling stock can pass over the crossing wit'hout the usual j olting. In a reverse manner it will be obvious that should the rolling stock be moving in the opposite direction and engage the lever 18 the outward movement imparted to the same will serve to properly position both the switch point and the lever 17. As soon as the rolling stock has passed the crossing the springs 23 and 31 would swing the levers outwardly across the flange receiving space 7 and revolve the switch oint again into engagement with the beve ed end 8a of one of the rail sections 8.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a railway crossing7 the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a switch point normally bridging over one of the ange receiving spaces, and means actuated by the rolling stock and having a yielding connection with the switch point for moving the latter to bridge the opposite flange receiving space.

2. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting ange receiving spaces, a switch point normally bridging over one of the flange receiving spaces, a lever adapted to be engaged by the rolling stock, and means providing an opera- 3. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a switch point, levers having an operative connection with the switch point for moving the same to bridge over either of the flange receiving spaces at their intersection, and springs for holding the levers in a predetermined position.

4. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a switch point normally bridging over one of the flange receiving spaces, a lever mounted upon one side of the opposite flange receiving space and normally rojecting across the same so as to be engaged by the rolling stock, and a link connecting the lever and the switch point for swinging the latter to bridge across the op osite flange receiving s ace when the said ever is engaged by the ro ling stock.

5. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided4 with intersecting flange `receiving spaces, a switch oint normally bridging over one of the ange receiving spaces, a lever mounted upon one side of the opposite flange receiving space and normally rojecting across the same so as to be engaged by the rolling stock, and a link connecting the switch point and lever for moving the switch point across the opposite flange receiving space when the lever is engaged by the rolling stock, the said link having a yielding connection with the lever.

6. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flan e receiving spaces, a switch point normal y bridging one of the flange receiving spaces at their intersection, a lever mounted upon the frog and normally projecting across the opposite flange receiving s ace on one side of the switch point, a second ever mounted up on the frog and normally projecting across the flange receiving space on the opposite side of the switch point, and connecting means between the switch point and the lever for moving the two levers into an inoperative position and causing the switch point to ridge the opposite flange receiving space when either of the levers is engaged by the rolling stock.

7. ln a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a switch point pivoted at an intermediate oint and adapted to bridge either of the ange receiving spaces, levers mounted upon opposite sides of the switch point adjacent one of the flange receiving spaces so as to engage the rolling stock, a link connecting one of the levers to one end of the switch point, an intermediate lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate point, a rod connecting one end of the intermediate lever and the opposite end of the switch point, and a link connecting the other end of the intermediate lever and the opposite lever.

S. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog providedl with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a disk mounted u on the frog, a switch point carried by the disfi and adapted to bridge either of the ange receiving spaces at their intersection, the said switch point being recessed to receive a tongue projecting from the frog, a pivot pin passing through the switch point and tongue,V and means for operating the switch point.

9. In a railway crossing, the combination of a frog provided with intersecting flange receiving spaces, a switch point pivotally mounted at an intermediate point and adapted to bridge either ofl the flange receiving spaces, a switch actuating lever mounted upon the frog upon opposite sides of the switch point, the said levers being normally swung across one of the flange receiving spaces, a link yieldingly connecting one ofthe levers to one end of the switch point, an intermediate lever, a link yieldingly connecting the opposite lever to the intermediate lever, and a rod connecting the intermediatev lever and the opposite end of the switch point.

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANGUS TIBBS. [L. s.] Witnesses:

GEO. B. COOPER, C. B. WRAY. 

